25 High Protein Lunch Ideas (+ Easy Recipes)

If you have a busy day ahead, these high protein lunch ideas are just what you need to power through.

They provide lasting energy for your day’s big accomplishments.

Homemade Beef Fajitas

Oftentimes, high protein means high meat, but doesn’t always have to be the case! There are plenty of meat-free and animal product-free recipes to accommodate any diet.

Whether you’re following the Keto diet, a Paleo plan, or just trying to limit your carb intake, there’s something for you on this list!

Each recipe is packed with nutritious ingredients and tons of flavor.

Look forward to your lunch and pack something you want to eat for a change.

With these 25 easy high protein recipes, you can feel good about what you are putting into your body and keep your day on the right track.

1. High Protein Sweet Pea and Tuna Salad

Over the years, tuna salad has gotten a bad rap, but this recipe is here to change that.

Both tuna and peas are nutrient-dense, and mayonnaise makes anything taste good.

Enjoy this salad plain, use it to fill your favorite sandwich, or even to stuff a tomato. It’s so good, you’ll be in heaven whichever way you serve it.

This meal is easy to make and prep ahead for the workweek.

2. Ham and Cheese Sliders

Ham and cheese is a classic combination. However, these are not your mom’s school lunches.

Hawaiian rolls are smothered in a savory mustard sauce and topped with herb butter.

The inside is filled with deli carved ham and melted swiss. These sandwiches are gourmet!

From the rolls to the toppings, restaurants will have trouble stopping them.

No longer a quick lunch solution, this protein-packed ham and cheese slider recipe is a delicacy.

3. Chickpea Soup

If you don’t eat animal products, I’m sure you have a can of chickpeas in the house!

This delicious soup is filling and helps you get that much-needed protein.

If you do eat meat, you’ll still love this chickpea soup recipe! It is the perfect companion for a cold day.

This recipe includes an Instant Pot-friendly version for those that are stressed for time. You don’t have an excuse! Fix up a pot of this today.

4. Steak Fajita Power Bowl

Steak is a dinner favorite, but these steak fajitas are light and ideal for lunch!

Pack your power bowl to the brim and enjoy a delicious fajita-inspired lunch that’s also nutritious.

Play around with the base grain of the bowl. Any whole grain will do! Substitute brown rice for quinoa or even white rice to go a little easier on your budget.

When your day is packed to the max, this fajita power bowl is the energy you need to make it through.

Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

5. Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

Elvis Presley is known for loving peanut butter and banana sandwiches, and he had the right idea.

These two ingredients are a power couple for a protein-packed lunch.

Sometimes, lunch just has to be on the go, and this smoothie recipe is made to travel with you.

Whether you’re running errands or stuck at your desk, this is the fuel you need to keep going.

Smoothies are no-bake and quick to make! You’ll always have time for lunch with this in your back pocket.

6. Lentil Salad

Lentils are a superfood, packed to the brim with so many critical vitamins and minerals on top of their incredible protein power.

What they lack in flavor, this salad makes up for! It combines with a myriad of spices to form a delectable dressing.

The other veggies bring much-needed texture variance to complete this delicious salad.

Pack two bowls and share with a friend. Everyone needs a protein-packed pick me up!

7. Vegan Chickpea Burgers

Burgers are a treat during the week, and these chickpea burgers are the perfect cure for mid-day rumblings.

The Mediterranean seasoning creates a protein-packed patty that you’ll be thinking about all day. Slide one into a bun with your favorite condiments and enjoy!

This recipe doesn’t try to imitate meat, but offers a hearty substitution you’ll find incredibly satisfying.

8. Chicken Shawarma Salad Bowls

Pass your plate for a serving of these chicken shawarma salad bowls! All critical food groups are represented in this high protein lunch.

The comforting flavors of a traditional shawarma dish bring this bowl together, uniting the various components of the salad.

Your cubicle mates will be jealous when you pull this out for lunch! Try not to rub your spectacular lunch in too much.

Black Bean Soup

9. Black Bean Soup

Beans are known for packing a mean protein punch, but it can be hard to find ways to enjoy them. This black bean soup solves that problem!

It’s both fragrant and spicy. The black beans are blended down to create a substantial soup that’s nourishing and comforting.

Fire up your Instant Pot and get ready to enjoy. This soup will be your sunshine on a cloudy day.

10. P.F. Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps

This menu item is a top seller, and now you can make it at home! Save time and money by preparing protein-packed lettuce wraps at home.

These lettuce wraps are quick to make and reheat, making them the perfect lunch to pack.

The lettuce provides a hearty crunch while the meat brings all the flavor.

Use ground chicken and lower your red meat intake, this recipe is so flavorful the white meat shines. Your heart will thank you!

11. Spicy Salmon Bowl

Fish is an incredibly lean source of protein, and salmon is so versatile. Enjoy it baked, then chilled in this salmon bowl.

Drop these pieces down on a bed of lettuce and pair them with chopped veggies for a grain-free lunch that will fuel you until dinner.

What will you do with all of your extra energy? There are so many nutrients in this salad, you may get superpowers!

12. Cilantro Lime Shrimp Bowls

If it’s been swimmin’ it gets a lemon! Or in this case, a lime. These cilantro lime shrimp bowls add a little fiesta to your Friday.

The shrimp bring the protein and the grains provide the carbohydrates for quick energy. The cilantro lime seasoning makes this dish restaurant quality.

Never settle for a dull and boring lunch again. With this recipe on your side, a flavorful midday meal is just around the corner.

13. Edamame Salad

Edamame is a soybean that is incredibly popular in Asian cuisine. It makes this list because it is an excellent source of plant-based protein.

This salad is a great way to get in your greens because it’s not only healthy but tastes great!

The vegetable blend is supported by a sauce coating that provides a great depth of flavor.

Enjoy this salad as your main dish or pack it as a side. Either way, it’s an enjoyable way to get in your proteins.

14. Old-Fashioned Bean Salad

This bean salad is an old brunch and potluck favorite. With its strong flavors and beautiful array of colors, it makes an excellent party dish.

Bring the party to work with you and pack this savory salad for lunch! The beans provide plenty of protein, and this dish is guaranteed to keep you full for the rest of the day.

Enjoy the wide variety of beans included in this recipe. The varied textures and colors are just divine.

15. Egg Salad

Eggs are a clean and lean way to get your daily protein in. Enjoy this egg salad and know you are nourishing your body with vital nutrients.

You may need a reminder though, this egg salad is so tasty, it feels like junk food! Eat it by itself or smear it on a sandwich.

Honestly, it is so good, double the recipe and have both!

Homemade Crab Cakes

16. Crab Cakes

Crab cakes for lunch? How indulgent! Sit in the lap of luxury and enjoy these crab cakes as a mid-day meal.

Feel like royalty with this luxurious dish. At least for the hour, you’ll get to enjoy it!

Silky crab is held together with a protein-packed egg. These cakes are so good, you can enjoy them plain! However, a little condiment never hurt anybody.

17. Cod Tacos

Hearty cod meat is the perfect filler for a flour tortilla. Top with coleslaw, and you’ll have a fish taco worth talking about.

These fish tacos are as filling as they are delicious! The cod fillets are lightly seasoned, allowing their natural flavor to be the star of the show.

Enjoy every bite of these delicious cod tacos!

18. Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Pizza

I’m sure this is a meal you’ve enjoyed as a treat, but have you ever stopped to think of the health benefit?

Next time you need a protein-packed lunch, consider chowing down on a Hawaiian pizza topped with lots of chicken.

Forget about takeout! This recipe teaches you how to make mouth-watering pizza all by yourself.

Mexican Buddha Bowl

19. Mexican Buddha Bowl

Buddha bowls are a great recipe to meal plan with because they are so versatile.

You can feel like you’re having a different meal every day just by changing up the toppings!

Prepare a couple of combinations ahead of time, and you’ll never know you’ve been eating the same thing all week.

Top with your favorite dressing for a lunch that’s lip-smacking good.

20. Tuna Stuffed Avocado

High protein and high (healthy) fat, this tuna stuffed avocado recipe is the best of both worlds. Fortunately, it couldn’t be simpler to make!

There are only two ingredients, tuna, and avocado. Both are so delicious, their natural flavors propel this entire dish.

This is the last-minute lunch you have been looking for. You’ll have finished it before you even realized you were hungry.

21. White Bean Salad

Salads are a great way to get a variety of vegetables into one dish. This salad features white beans but has several supporting veggies as well.

Enjoy a protein-packed lunch straight from the fridge. This recipe doesn’t require any cooking and is ready to go in an instant.

Make up a batch and be ready for the week! 

22. Falafel Salad

Falafel is a fried ball of hummus. They are delicious but can be tricky to make. This recipe takes out all the hard work!

Top your salad with fresh falafels and enjoy this plant-powered meal!

Pat yourself on the back for mastering the falafel and enjoy the incredible flavors of this Mediterranean staple.

Serve warm or cold, or a mix of both! The warm falafels pair well with a cold bed of salad greens.

23. Cobb Salad 

Cobb salad is a classic salad that’s packed with various meats and eggs. Use spinach as your base, and you’ll have a bowl of protein to carry you through your day.

Turkey, bacon, and a hard-boiled egg are just some of the places you will find protein in this meal.

Top with a killer dressing for a meal you won’t be able to resist.

Lots of variety to your fresh veggies is the secret with this dish. The more ingredients you have, the better.

24. Sesame Chicken Bowls

Sesame chicken is a popular takeout item, and now it’ll be your new favorite health food!

Prepare your chicken for a sesame spree in these sesame chicken bowls.

Sautee your veggies in the same sauce you prepare your chicken. Like magic, boring greens become flavorful and addicting!

Love your lunch with this veggie-packed protein power bowl waiting for you in your lunch box!

White Chicken Chili with Beans

25. White Chicken Chili

This fall staple is the perfect meal to fuel you up for the rest of the day. It’s chock full of protein-packed chicken and savory flavors.

This broth-based chili is spiced with green chiles and thickened with a generous scoop of flour.

Add in the white beans, and you’ll have two sources of protein in one dish.

High protein dishes are a great way to power up for a big workout or office meeting.

Be ready for whatever comes your way with this high protein white chicken chili.

25 High Protein Lunches (+ Recipe Collection)

These high protein lunch ideas will keep you going all day long! From salads to soups to bowls, these easy recipes make low-carb living tasty!

Instructions

  • Select your favorite recipe.
  • Organize all the required ingredients.
  • Prep a high protein lunch in 30 minutes or less!
High Protein Lunch Ideas

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